Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent | 6,167,586 |
Reed, Jr. ,   et al. | January 2, 2001 |
A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. Supply tanks are removably mounted to the handle or base while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle or base. An outlet in each supply tank includes a valve to close the outlet when the supply tank is removed from the base. A protrusion in a bottom surface of the supply tank defines a measuring volume for concentrated cleaning solution and is further adapted to stabilize the supply tank in the base or handle. The supply tank also includes an aperture through a lower portion selectively closed by a drain plug. A conduit connecting each supply tank to a dispensing nozzle includes a check valve restricting fluid flow to a direction from the tank and to the nozzle. Also, a float assembly in the recovery tank includes a first end for covering an air exit from the recovery tank and a second end, which is buoyant and elevated by the rising recovered fluid in the tank, for raising the first end to cover the air exit.
Inventors: | Reed, Jr.; Charles A. (Rockford, MI); Kasen; Timothy E. (Jenison, MI); Kelly; Luke E. (Grand Rapids, MI); Smith; Gary L. (Belding, MI); Metzger; Eric R. (Sand Lake, MI) |
Assignee: | Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI) |
Appl. No.: | 072446 |
Filed: | May 4, 1998 |
Current U.S. Class: | 15/320; 15/321; 137/614.2; 239/304; 239/578 |
Intern'l Class: | A47L 007/00; A62C 013/62 |
Field of Search: | 15/320,321 137/614.2,854 239/289,302,303,304,305,306,578 |
3101505 | Aug., 1963 | Belicka et al. | |
3491398 | Jan., 1970 | Segesman. | |
3940826 | Mar., 1976 | Phillips et al. | |
3959844 | Jun., 1976 | Cyphert. | |
4306558 | Dec., 1981 | Kurtz et al. | |
4333202 | Jun., 1982 | Block. | |
4558484 | Dec., 1985 | Groth. | |
4559666 | Dec., 1985 | Duncan et al. | |
4570856 | Feb., 1986 | Groth et al. | |
4809397 | Mar., 1989 | Jacobs et al. | |
5012549 | May., 1991 | Williams et al. | |
5383251 | Jan., 1995 | Whitaker et al. | |
5406673 | Apr., 1995 | Bradd et al. | |
5784755 | Jul., 1998 | Karr et al. | 15/320. |
5896617 | Apr., 1999 | Kasen et al. | 15/320. |
Foreign Patent Documents | |||
1121225 | Jul., 1968 | GB. |